The association of C-reactive protein levels with carotid intima-media complex thickness and plaque formation in the general population.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE An inflammatory response has been associated with the development of atherosclerosis. Our aim was to clarify which atherosclerotic changes (intima-media complex thickness [IMT] increase, plaque formation, and arterial dilatation) are associated with C-reactive protein (CRP) levels and to determine whether there are any gender differences. METHODS Carotid ultrasound and measurement of high-sensitivity CRP (hs-CRP) levels were performed in 2056 subjects selected from a general population (mean age 58.3 years; 1290 men). RESULTS In both genders, IMT significantly increased with increasing hs-CRP quartile (P<0.001), but this relationship disappeared after adjustment for age and other traditional cardiovascular risk factors. In men, but not women, carotid luminal diameter significantly increased with increasing hs-CRP levels (P<0.05), but again, this relationship disappeared with adjustment for age and other risk factors. However, in men, but not women, plaque score increased significantly with increasing hs-CRP quartile (P<0.01), even after adjustment for age and other traditional risk factors. CONCLUSIONS CRP level was closely associated with early atherosclerotic changes represented by carotid plaque formation. However, the IMT increase was strongly associated with aging and other traditional cardiovascular risk factors rather than CRP level. In the general population, CRP may serve as a complementary and quantitative marker for atherosclerotic plaque formation in men but not women.